Heat exchange coil fin straightener



Jan. 7, 1958 H. J. PILLE HEAT EXCHANGE con. FIN STRAIGHTENER Filed Oct. 12, 1956 Henry .1. Pi/le INVENTOR.

United tates Patnt HEAT EXCHANGE COIL FIN STRAIGHTENER Henry J. Pille, Marshalltown, Iowa, assignor of fifty percent to Max E. Weitzell, Marshalltown, Iowa Application October 12, 1956, Serial No. 615,545

3 Claims. (Cl. 81-15) This invention generally relates to a hand tool and more particularly to a tool for straightening and generally repairing the fins on heat exchanger coils such as those found in refrigeration or air conditioning systems.

It is a well known fact that in electrically operated compressor type refrigeration and air conditioning units and especially in air cooled air conditioning units, the condenser coil and evaporator coil are made up in a similar arrangement in which a number of rows of tubes or cores through which the refrigerant flows is employed together with perpendicularly arranged crosswise rows of very thin sheets of lead or copper spaced approximately Ma inch apart which are commonly referred to as fins. These fins greatly increase the dissipation of heat or cold from the tubes and the refrigerant therein into the air stream that is forced through the unit between these fins. In view of the material from which the fins are constructed together with the thin construction thereof, these fins are often damaged in handling and damage generally occurs when the outer edges of these fins are curled or bent over so that no air or only a small amount can be forced through the damaged part of the coil. This portion of the coil will decrease the efliciency of the entire air conditioning unit. Since these units are normally disposed in an area where it is hard to gain access, the straightening and repair of the fins is extremely diificult. This is especially true after the unit is in installed position and the damage to the fins is discovered. Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a tool for straightening and repairing the coil fins with the tool being a result of various experiments in the field of straightening and repairing these fins.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is 'a perspective view illustrating the tool of the present invention being employed for straightening the fins of a heat exchanging coil;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 22 of Figure 1 illustrating the relationship of the elements of the tool; and,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of Figure 2 illustrating further structural details and relationships of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the coil fin straightening tool of the present invention which is especially designed and adapted for use in conjunction with the fins 12 attached to refrigerant receiving tubes 14 in such a manner that the heat or cold from the refrigerant in the tubes 14 will be efiectively and efficiently dissipated to the air. The fins 12 quite often become bent laterally as indicated by the 2,818,757 Patented Jan. 7, 1958 numeral 16 which interferes with and substantially precludes movement of air through this particular portion of the heat exchanging unit thus reducing the efliciency thereof.

The tool 10 includes a pair of closely spaced parallel leg members or jaw members 18 which are interconnected by a rounded bight portion 20 and which are provided with curved or rounded free edge portions 22. Both the side edges and the end edges of each jaw member 18 is rounded to prevent cutting damage to the fins 12.

If this tool is placed in the hand with the rounding part of the tool resting against the upper part of the palm, it is suggested that you then bring your thumb around one side and the index finger around the other side so these finger tips are touching the flat part of the tool about one inch from the end of the jaws. Then you should bring your fourth and fifth fingers back and underneath the back part or bottom of this tool so that they are touching the thumb of your hand substantially as illustrated in Figure 1. With this kind of grip on the tool, it may be operated at a lot of different angles, up and down, back and forth, in and out thus providing a versatility of movement. Also, the thumb and index finger can increase or decrease the pressure as needed on the side end of the jaws. With the tool gripped as shown in Figure l, the jaw end of the tool is placed into the coil so that one sheet or one fin will be disposed between the jaws running parallel with the flat side of the tool. The jaws overlap the edge of the fin approximately one-half inch and the tool may then be moved up and down parallel with the rows of fins. It is pointed out that the thickness of the jaws on this tool also helps line up the rows of fins on the outside of the jaws thereby helping to take out part of the damaged curl-over before you get those fins between the jaws to give them the straightening treatment. The tapered rounded smooth edges provided on the jaws helps to bring out the damaged curl-over gradually and without sharp edges cutting into the fin and with the right angle or twist of the tool, the corner edge thereof may get in under the curled over fin and bring it out into a better position for straightening.

Also, it is pointed out that there is a slight gap between the jaws of the tool which permits one fin to get between the flat jaws without having to use any force and helps to ease the operation of the tool. This space also decreases the possibility of tearing the thin sheet of the fin. If pressure is applied against the outside surfaces of the jaws with the thumb and index finger these jaws will grip the fin very tight. This gripping action is extremely helpful in getting the damaged fin into the correct position especially when the damaged fin may have been ripped or torn. The width of these jaws is just enough to let the tool get into the correct position whether the damaged part of the fin is deep or away from the edge thereof where it is extremely difficult to get at. This width also provides sufficient bearing on the tin so that fin will not be stretched or buckled.

The length and shape of the tool is important in that the length was determined to fit into the average hand so that it may be maneuvered into position by a simple twist of the wrist. The shape was arrived at to get the correct bearing action where needed for the job to be done and it also lets the jaws have the right amount of spring tension as the jaws will widen apart when necessary to provide progressive straightening when the fins are severely wrinkled and it doesnt take too much pressure with the thumb and index fingers on the jaws to get the gripping action previously described. A particular kind of metal is desirable since it has the correct amount of tension and also it creates a soft smooth touch in relation to the material of the fins.

v p t 3 Anvexample, of HSeiiS that 'a'person is facing a coil and the edges of thejfins are bent 'atasharp'angle to the light and it is noted that the fins overlap each other. In order to correct the above kind ofedamage, thenperson-uemplnyingsthe' tool' shotild start-and insent the z'j-aws' nf :tliis tool cinto-Hthe first 'datn a gedirew Qf ifiHSzitDiihB extneme'ileftisidemf c-the 'dam'aged portion, then by sliding this tool up and down with 'on'e f: Eth6.:fiHSvb6tW$Ilizth6 jaws nyou -nn t'-ioe the tool 'has to straightenejust none of thezfin iIflWs vat aetime whereas it-you-ista-rt tosst'raiglzl-tenithe of tfins onimhe right side "of. the above kind of damaged ipmrtion and proceed to sstraig-htemeach row to the leftsynu'iwillunotineeeaoh time you slide; thei toolzthroughethe srowszyouvwonld have to aa-lso -stant straightening ithe ovalapping ."rows idf fins.

The foregoing considetednas zillnstrative onlyi of the P'Ei'llOjPiGSflDf the jinvention tEtn'ther, mi-nee :numerous. modifioationsz'and -1eham-ges ewill :occurio those skilled in .;the 1 art, it .is :ncxtaiesiredcato the-invention to .t-he exact :construc't-ion rand i :operation rshown sand idesoribed, and accordingly rzallhsuitahletmodifieafions and equivalentsmay xbe resorted-to,ifalling' within the scope of the invention as::clairned.

:What is =o1aime'd;as new isaasffollows:

-1. A= t0ol forgstraightening thejfinsaonaa :heat exchanger coil comprising 1'8. ,pair :of lPKIBEHBl iol'oslyaspaced jaw members, a curved interconnectingapomion ationeend :of the jawsmemberst-with the otheriend'rofzthetjawrmemhers being free ior receiving :the :fin therebetween kandaslidin'g between adjacent fins on- ZthB:iC@i1,i;Said"j flW$ lbeingt spaced apart a distance suhstantiallyeiqual to the-thickness of a-fin whereby sliding movement-.ofiztherjawsvon zthefin Willi-straighten thesame.

2. A toolfor straightening thefins on a'heatexchanger coil :comprising a :pair of parallel closely;.spaced 'jaw member-s n curvedrinterconnecting portionciatoneen'd-of the jaw members- -withvthe :other end of theejawimembers described 'on the 'assmnpfion being free for" receiving the fin therebetween and sliding between adjacent fins on the coil, said jaws beingispaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a fin whereby sliding movement of the jaws on the fin will straighten the same, the side edges and free edges of the tool being rounded to provide a smooth surface for preventing cutting damage to the fins.

3. A tool for straightening-the fins on a heat exchanger coil comprising (a pair of parallel closely spaced jaw members, a curved interconnecting portion at one end of theajawmcnnbers-with the other-end of the jaw members being free for receiving the 'fin therebetween and'sliding between adjacent fins on the coil, said jaws being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a fin whereby sliding movement of the jaws on the fin will straighten the same, the side edges and free edges of the tool being rounded to provide a smooth surface for preventing cutting damage to the fins, said jaws being ofza widthiorprovide sufficient bearing area to substanstraighten :the fin when moved longitudinally thereon and. being-10f sufficient length to project above the fins for grippinglbetween the thumb and index finger whereby pressure-may be applied for straightening the fins.

aReferencesCited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1:505:21'0 Lee Aug, 19, 1924 2,222,081 Leigh Nov. 19, 1940 2314, 034 -'De,Roo Mar. 16, 1943 2;607,'2'49 Johnston Aug-l9, -2 1,618,185 Fechter a Nov. .1-8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS -2 '69; 87 -l Switzerland Nov. '1, 1950 7295937 -Great Britain May 11,1955 

